A Core Formation expert was bullied by an outer disciple.

The massive senluo bone boat slowly hovered.

Below it, the outline of a majestic city was clear. The bustling atmosphere of the Mortal market mingled with the spiritual light of the Cultivator area. It was Tianyuan City.

Gu Zheng stood at the bow, her sleeves flapping loudly in the fierce wind, while Bai Yixuan and Shi Tai stood to her left and right, respectively.

"Senior Sister, since we rarely get a chance to rest in Tianyuan City, I remember there's a place called 'Listening Rain Pavilion' in the city. Their spiritual tea is absolutely unique. How about we..." Bai Yixuan gently fanned himself with his Jade Bone Fan, his smile gentle and his words filled with eagerness.

"What's the point of drinking tea?" Shi Tai interrupted him gruffly. "The Fighting Arena in the East City is where the real excitement is. Wouldn't it be much more enjoyable to go see that?"

Gu Zheng ignored their suggestions, her cold gaze sweeping toward the direction of the cabin.

"Let's wait for Junior Brother Lin and see what he thinks."

As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Yuan's figure walked out from inside the cabin.

He nodded indifferently toward the three of them, counting it as a greeting, and then, without the slightest pause, he immediately summoned a light feather boat, transforming into a streak of Escape Light, and sped toward Tianyuan City below without looking back.

The entire process was completed in one smooth motion, without any delay.

On the deck, the atmosphere became somewhat stagnant.

Bai Yixuan and Shi Tai exchanged glances, both seeing a hint of uncontrollable joy in the other's eyes.

Lin, he truly is an Alchemy fool who doesn't understand social etiquette. It's perfect that he left!

Gu Zheng watched the rapidly disappearing Escape Light. In her cold eyes, a faint, almost imperceptible thread of annoyance inexplicably sparked.

That guy... is he that eager to avoid me?

She felt stifled inside, yet she couldn't find a reason to vent her frustration.

"Hmph, it seems Junior Brother Lin disdains associating with us," Bai Yixuan chuckled.

...In Tianyuan City, Cultivators came and went like threads in a loom.

Lin Yuan's figure descended like a meteor at the City Gate Management Office, the resulting airflow causing the surrounding low-level Cultivators to stumble.

"Senior Brother's presence honors us! Qian Tong apologizes for not welcoming you sooner!" A middle-aged man with a small mustache ran over, his face covered in sweat and piled high with fawning smiles.

This person's Cultivation was at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, but his aura was unstable. He had clearly achieved Human Dao Foundation Establishment, with no hope for the Great Dao, which is why he came to this large Mortal city to seek a lucrative position.

Lin Yuan's gaze was devoid of warmth.

"Three days ago, did a senluo bone boat also stop here?"

Qian Tong bowed and scraped: "Reporting to Senior Brother, that is indeed true!"

"Did a Mortal woman without any Cultivation descend from that ship?"

As soon as he heard this, the smile on Qian Tong's face instantly froze, and his eyes became wary.

In the Cultivation World, casually inquiring about someone else's whereabouts is a major taboo. Who knew if the person in front of him was seeking revenge or seeking kin? If he spoke too much and got involved in trouble he shouldn't, he'd have nowhere to cry.

He rolled his eyes and looked troubled: "Senior Brother, well... the number of Cultivators and Mortals coming and going from Tianyuan City every day is immense. With so many people moving around, this humble one really has no recollection..."

Lin Yuan sneered internally. He was very experienced in dealing with such old hands, because he himself used to be such an old hand.

"That woman is a relative of a Core Formation Stage Senior from Hundred Herbs Peak. I was entrusted by the Senior to come and check on her. If that Senior becomes displeased..." Lin Yuan whispered.

Core Formation Stage?!

The color drained completely from Qian Tong's face with a swoosh! He felt a chill rush straight from the soles of his feet to his crown.

He leaned closer, lowered his voice, and spoke with absolute certainty: "Senior Brother, now that you mention it, I remember! It's true! That... Fairy, is currently at the Spirit Medicine Garden in the West Suburb, responsible for... responsible for tending a few acres of Spiritual Fields."

"That woman has a peculiar appearance; I remember her very clearly!"

Lin Yuan revealed a smile: "Take me to see her now, and you won't lack rewards afterward."

Hearing this, Qian Tong gave a fawning smile: "Senior Brother, please follow me!"

Led by Qian Tong, Lin Yuan quickly arrived outside a secluded small courtyard.

Inside the courtyard, the chattering laughter of several women could be heard.

"Greetings, Steward Qian!" Four female Cultivators wearing Outer Sect attire were gathered together. Upon seeing Qian Tong, they casually gave a salute, but their eyes were full of scrutiny as they lingered on Lin Yuan.

Qian Tong wiped his cold sweat and asked in a deep voice, "Where is Miss Qing Tan?"

The four women exchanged glances. One female Cultivator with freckles curled her lip and said carelessly, "Oh, that mute named Qing Tan? The newcomer didn't know the rules, so we sisters taught her a lesson to help her remember."

She pointed her chin toward the back mountain and said with contempt and malice, "She should be in the Beast Pen out back, shoveling dung for the Iron-Armored Rhinos! Why, does Steward Qian need something from that Ugly Freak?"

Before she finished speaking.

A terrifying Killing Intent, powerful enough to freeze the Soul, suddenly enveloped the entire small courtyard! The air seemed to solidify into a block of iron. The smiles on the faces of the four female Cultivators instantly stiffened; they felt as if they had fallen into an ice cave, and even their breathing stopped.

Lin Yuan's eyes were as cold as the ice beneath the Nine Netherworlds.

"My Dao Companion, you dared to make her clean up beast dung?"

His voice was soft, yet it struck the hearts of the five people like a heavy hammer!

Qian Tong was scared out of his wits, and the four female Cultivators instantly turned deathly pale, trembling like chaff.

Dao Companion? That Ugly Freak is the Dao Companion of this terrifying Senior?!

Before they could figure it out, Lin Yuan had already raised his hand.

There was no surge of Spiritual Qi, no flashy Move.

He simply clenched his hand lightly in the air toward the four women, a cruel arc curving at the corner of his mouth: "Since you enjoy making others Shovel dung so much, then your Dantian no longer needs to exist."

"Ah—!"

Piercing screams rang out simultaneously. The four female Cultivators felt their Dantian being fiercely gripped by an invisible large hand, and then sharply twisted!

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

The four women simultaneously spat out large mouthfuls of essence blood. Their Cultivation aura withered at a visible speed, their Spiritual Roots were all severed, and their Foundation was utterly ruined! This was more painful than killing them.

"Lead the way."

Lin Yuan withdrew his hand, his tone utterly devoid of emotion, as if he had merely crushed four ants.

Qian Tong was already scared stiff, leading the way while scrambling and stumbling.

Soon, a Beast Pen reeking of foul odors appeared before them.

Lin Yuan's gaze instantly locked onto a slender figure in the corner, laboriously swinging a Shovel. That figure looked so lonely in the foul environment, yet it exuded a sense of stubbornness.

"Wanqing."

The delicate body trembled violently, then slowly turned around.

It was still the face named "Qing Tan."

But at this moment, the left half of her cheek was covered by a massive, hideous purplish-black birthmark, coiled like a twisted centipede, completely ruining her originally peerless beauty.

Combined with the Coarse Linen Clothes covered in mud, she looked incredibly ugly.

Lin Yuan's pupils suddenly contracted.

He now understood why Qian Tong had called her appearance peculiar.

Beneath that ugly face, he saw a pair of unyielding eyes burning with fierce flames.